rhind



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet..1.

F; RH'IND, EXTENSION LAMP FIXTURE. No. 383,769. Patented May 29, 1888.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. REIND.

EXTENSION LAMP FIXTURE. No. 388,769. I Patented May 279, 1888.

NJPETERS, Pbowumu m her, wuhington, D. c.

llnirn Tarts FRANK RHIND, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALFTO EDXVARD MILLER & COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

EXTENSION-LAMP FIXTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 383,769, dated May 29,1888.

Application filed November 30, 1887. Serial No. 256,511. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, FRANK RHIND, of Meriden, in the county of New Havenand State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement inExtension-Lamp Fixtures; and I do hereby declare the following, whentaken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters ofreference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification,and represent, in-

Figure 1, aside View of the frame and upper portion of the central shaftof a chandelier, but in partial section, illustrating the invention withthe drum arranged upon a horizon tal axis; Fig. 2, a side view turnedone-fourth around from the position seen in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a top orplan view of the same; Fig. 4, a modification in the construction of thenotches in the drum; Figs. 5 and 6, respectively, side and top views ofthe frame, drum, and hanger in partial section, illustrating theapplication of the invention to a drum arranged upon a vertical axis;Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10, modifications.

This invention relates to an improvement in thatclass ofilluminating-fixturcs which are designed to carry lamps, and which aresuspended from the ceiling of the apartment with contrivanees to permitthe lamp or lamps to be drawn down from the ceiling or adjusted todifferent elevations.

In some cases the fixture carries but a single lamp suspended by two ormore chains. In other cases it is in the form of a chandelier, in whichthe central shaft is of a telescopic char acter, one part hung inpositive engagement with the ceiling, so as to remain stationary as toelevation, and the other part carrying the lamps or burners, movable upand down. The two parts of the shaft are usually tubular, and the tubesserve as a guide for the upand-down adjusting movement. These classesoffixtures are usually provided with a spring-drum supported in a frame,through which the fixture is hung to the ceiling. The drum carries oneor more cords or chains which run therefrom down into connection withthe adjustable part of the fixture, and so that as the adjustable partis pulled downward it will draw the cord or chains from the spring-drumand accordingly rewind the spring within the drum, so that the reactionot' the spring when free will raise the adjustable part or aid in sodoing. In these classes of fixtures the weight of the adjustableportionis variable to a considerable extent. This variation arises,first, from the consumption of the oil in the founts. The lamps of thepresent day being rapid consumers, the founts are required to belargeand the consumption of the oil rapidly reduces'the weight. Again, thefounts are variable in their weigh t. The shades which are often appliedto the lamps are not only variable in their weight, but their presenceor absence creates a great variation in the weight of the adjustablepart. Again, founts are usually removed for trimming. To remove thefount, the adjustable part is necessarily pulled downward to aconsiderable extent. Then the removal of the fount greatly reduces theweight of the adj ustable part. If the spring be adjusted so as tosupport the adjustable partin its elevated position-a position where thefount must be permitted to stand the drawing down of the adjustable partincreases the lifting power of the spring, so that the tendency to liftthe adjustable part of the fixture increases as the said adjustable partis drawn downward. It therefore follows that if the spring has a powerto support the adjustable partin its elevated position, if no provisionto the contrary be made, the increasing power of the spring as theadjustable part is pulled downward will give to it a strength to raisethe adjustable part, so that it could not stand at the lower elevation,but would necessarily rise under the power of the spring.

Frictional devices have been applied sometimes between the adjustableand. stationary parts,and at other ti mes upon the spring drum, whichoffer a sufficientresistance to the action of the spring to prevent itsmoving the ad justable part, and so that the ad j nstable part may standat any elevation to which it may be set. In this case the spring simplyaids in usual manner.

raising the adjustable part. The friction applied must be overcome bythe person moving the adjustable part.

The frictional devices which I have mentioned, while accomplishing agood result in cases where there is no great variation in the weight ofthe adjustable part, are not reliable in other fixtures where there is agreat variation of the weight, as where numerous lamps are employed,orheavy founts or shades. Consequently there is usually applied in thisclass of fixtures a gripping device, brake,or lock of somecharaeter,which will prevent the movement of the adjustable part,exceptwhen such brake orlock is disengaged. These locking devices havebeen of various character, the most common in chandeliers being a brakeor look arranged at some point between the adjustable and stationaryparts,with a connection through the central shaft asa means foroperating it.

The object of my invention is to apply the engaging device to thespring-drum, so as to prevent its rotation except when adjustment isdesirable.

I will first illustrate my invention as applied to chandeliers, inwhichthe spring drum is arranged near the point of suspension and in whichthe axis .of the drum is horizontal, and sothat the drum revolves in avertical plane.

A represents the frame, within which the spring-drum Bis hung upon anaxis,O, in the usual manner. To thelower end of the springdrum thestationary tube D of the central shaft is attached, also in the usualmanner, and within which tube D the adjustable tube E, carrying thelamps, is also arranged in the The spring-drum is provided with theusual spring, and from the drum a cord or chain, F, extends downwardinto the central shaft and is connected to the inner tube in the usualmanner, and so as to permit the adjustable part to be drawn down orraised, also in the usual manner.

G represents the loop or hanger by which the chandelier is suspended.This hanger is hung to the top of the frame upon a vertical pivot, H, asindicated in section, Fig. 1, and so that the frame, with all itcarries, may rotate upon the pivot to some extent in a horizontal planewithout imparting such rotation to the hanger G.

The drum is provided with a series of teeth or notches, a, more or lessin number, which are concentric with the axis of the drum. From thehanger a dog, I, projects downward, and so as to stand in the path ofthe teeth a on the drum when the parts are in the normal position, asrepresented in Figs. 1 and 2.

Between the drum and hanger aspring, J, is arranged, the tendency ofwhich is to hold the dog and teeth of the drum in engagement, asrepresented in Fig. 1, but so as to yield under the rotation of theframein a horizontal plane,

and so that the teeth of the drum may be turned out of engagement withthe dog, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 3; but when the frame isleft free then the spring will cause the frame to return to bring theteeth into the plane of the dog.

It will be understood that the engagement of the teeth of the drum withthe dog is in the direction against the winding action of the spring.The back of the teeth are inclined, so that the teeth may escape the dogas the drum rotates under the action of drawing the cord or chaintherefrom. It will therefore be apparent that when the dog and drum areengaged, as represented in Figs. 1 and 2, the reaction of the spring inthe drum will be prevented, but that when they are disengaged the springwill be free to apply its reactive power to raise or aid in raising theadjustable part of the chandelier.

Normally the drum stands engaged with the hanger. If in this conditionthe adjustable part be drawn downward,the drum will revolve in the usualmanner, its teeth successively escaping the dog I of the hanger; butwhen the drawing-down force is removed the reactive force of the springbegins and the drum will engage the hanger, as before described, andsuch reactive force be arrested. If now it be desired to raise theadjustable part, the hand is applied to the lower part or tip of thecentral shaft in the usual manner, and a partial rotation is impartedthereto sufficient to turn the frame out of engagement with the hanger,as represented in Fig. 3. Then the adjustable part is free to rise, asin the usual construction of this class of chandeliers; but during suchrise the chandelier must be held so as to prevent its rotative returnuntil the desired elevation is attained. Then, the chandelier left free,the spring between the hanger and frame reacts and draws the chandelierand hanger again into position for the dog to engage the drum, it beingunderstood that the parts of the-central shaft engage each other eitherby frictional contact or irregular shapes, as seen in Fig. 8, sothat'the rotation of the adjustable part will cause like rotation of thestationary part.

I have represented the engagement of the dog with the drum as beingpositive against the reactive force of the spring, but leaving the drumfree to escape in the drawing-down operation. The engagementbetween thedrum and the dog, however, may be positive by making the notches in thedrum to present a square shoulder in both directions, as indicated inFig. 4, instead of presenting a square shoulder on one side and anincline on the reverse side.

I have represented the dog as a part of the hanger by which the lamp issuspended, and which, therefore, is not rotatable, the frame carryingthe drum being adapted to revolve upon a pivot between it and thehanger; but, if preferred, the hanger may be made, as in many cases, astationary permanent part of the frame. In this case the outer tube ofthe central shaft, which is fixed to the frame, will be attached to thelower end of the frame, as seen in Fig. 7,and so that it may rotatethereon. The dog I in this case is formed as a part of or as aprojection from the part of the shaft attached direct-1y to the frame,and so that as the chandelier is rotated the dog will rotate with it andmove toward or from the notches in the drum, as indicated in brokenlines, Fig. 7.

In other constructions of chandeliers the spring-drum is arranged withinthe boss from which the arms project, (see Fig. 9,) and which boss moveswith the adjustable portion of the fixture, K representing the boss. Inthis case the frame carrying the spring-drum is attached to the lowerend of the adjustable portion E of the central shaft, and so that it mayhave a certain amount of rotation thereon, as upon a verticalaxis,and,as it did in the first illustration, upon the hanger portion ofthe chandelier. Then from the lower end of the tube E the dog I projectsinto the path of the notches 011 the drum when the parts are in thenormal condition,and as first described. In this case the two portions DE of the central shaft are of irregular shape in transverse section,asseen in Fig. 8, and so that the upper part being stationary, the lowerpart will be prevented from rotation, but yet free for vertical movement. The boss and the arms it carries may rotate upon the lower end ofthe central shaft,

and so that by a slight rotative movement, as before described, thenotches in the drum will be taken out of the plane of the dog and thedrum left free to revolve under the ascent 0r descent, as the case maybe, so long as the drum is so held out of possible engagement with thedog; but to lock the drum to prevent its revolution the rotative portionof the chandelier is permitted to return to bring the ratchet into theplane of and so as to engage with the dog, as before described.

Instead of making the drum and the arm portion of the chandelier torotate, as I have described and have illustrated in Fig. 9, they may bemade in the usual manneras a part of the tube E-or so that there shallbe no movement of one independent of the other, and yet'retain myinvention. To do this the drum is arranged in the boss of the chandelierin the same manner as before described, and

as seen in Fig. 10. In this case the tip L, which forms the lowertermination of the chandelier, and which is concentric in the boss, maybe arranged so as to rotate in a horizontal plane, as indicated in Fig.9, and this tip carries the dog -I in a position to engage the drum inthe normal condition and so as to lock the drum, as before described.Then to disengage the drum, so as to permit the up or downward movementof the chandelier, the tip is rotated so far as to take the dog out ofthe path of the revolving drum. Thus the drum is free to revolve, andconse' quently the chandelier free to be moved up or down, and thismovement may continue between the two extremes until the tip is returnedto bring the dog into the path of and so as to lock the drum.

It will be understood that the returningspring may be applied in allcases alike, so as to automatically return the part which has beenrotated to bring the parts into the'loeking position.

In case of a l1orizontally-arranged spring, as seen in Figs. 5 and 6,the pivot between the frame A and hanger G is constructed so as topermit not only a rotation of one upon the other, but so as to permitthe frame to be drawn downward from the hanger, as indicated in brokenlines, Fig. 5. In this case the pivot extends into the hanger and isprovided with a head, I), between which and the hanger is a spring, d,the tendency of which is to hold the frame up against the hanger, butpermit the frame to be drawn down from the hanger, as represented inbroken lines, Fig. 5.

From the hanger the dog I projects directly downward through a hole, 6,in the frame, and so as to engage the teeth or notches a on the upperhead of the drum when the fixture stands in its normal position.

The power of the spring (Z is considerably less than the power of thespringin the drum; hence the first effort to pull down the adjustablepart of the fixture will cause the whole fixture, including the frame,to descend and move away from the hanger G, as indicated in brokenlines, Fig. 5. This downward move ment of the fixture independent of thehanger is only sufficient to disengage the drum from the hanger. When sodisengaged, the adjust able part may then be drawn downward to anydesired extentwithout interference between the hanger and drum; buttoprevent any possible interference between the hanger and drum whileadjustment is being made the downward movement of the fixture takes theframe so far down that the dog I escapes there from. Then thebefore-mentioned rotative movement is imparted to the fixture independent of the hanger, which carries the dog to one side of the hole ethrough the frame, as indicated in Fig. 6, thereby preventing theentrance of the dog into engagement with the drum until the fixtureshall have been re turned; and while the disengagement so exists theadjustable part of the fixture may be raised or lowered at will, andwhen the desired elevation is attained the fixture is returned to permitthe dog again to enter into engagement with the drum, audwhen so engagedprevent the upward movement of the fixture, or either the upward ordownward, if the engaging teeth or notches of the drum be of thecharacter represented in Fig. 4.

I illustrate the hanger in Figs. 5 and 6 as provided with two dogs andthe frame with corresponding holes.

To limit the extent of rotation of the frame with relation to the dog,the frame is provided with stops f 9, between which the hanger stands,and so that the one stop f will arrest the rotation of the frame when ithas been turned sufficiently far to insure the rest of the dog upon theframe. The otherstop, g, is in a position to arrest rotation when theframe shall have been turned into position for the dog to engage thedrum.

In the first illustrations the frame forms a stop on one side of theback and the drum on the opposite side, to arrest rotation accordinglyas engagement or disengagement shall have been produced, these partsoperating substantially the same as the stopsfg in Fig. 6.

To automatically bring the dog and frame into the engaging position, aspring may be applied between the two to act in the same manner as thespring J in the first illustration, and this spring may be the spring'd,which lifts the frame into the engaging position with thehanger.Thespringdbeingahelicalspring, one end may be engaged with the hangerand the other with the pivot, as represented in Fig. 5, and so that therotative movement of the fixture with relation to the hanger willproduce a torsional action upon the spring, the reaction of which will,if permitted,cause the fixture to return into the engaging position.

The arrangement of the drum upon a vertical axis, and so as to revolvein a horizontal plane, as I have illustrated, is best adapted forhanginglamps, or such as are known in the trade as library -lamps, whichare supported by two or more chains, the said chains both wound on thedrum over pulleys (repre sented in Fig. 6) upon opposite sides of thedrum, so that as the lamp is raised the drum turns in the direction towind both chains onto the drum, or when the lamp is drawn down bothchains are drawn equally from the drum. This is a common arrangement anddoes not require particular description.

In case of lamps or fixtures suspended by chains from the spring drumthe rotative movement is imparted through the chains in substantiallythe same manner as I have described for the rotative movement in thechair delier.

In many extension fixtures having an engaging device to retain theadjustable part at any point to which it may be adjusted frictionaldevices are also employed to prevent a too rapid descent or ascent ofthe adjustable part. If it be desirable, such frictional devices may bein like manner provided with the engaging devices herein described; butsuch frictional devices constitute no part of my present invention. Theybeing wellknown, it is unnecessary to illustrate or describe them.

I claim 1. In a lamp-fixture adapted to be hung from the ceiling andconsisting of two parts, one the suspending portion and the other partcarrying the lamp or lamps, the said other part adjustable to differentelevations with re lation to the suspending portion, the combinationtherewith of a frame, a spring-drum arranged upon an axis in said frame,the said frame and drum arranged in one of said parts, acord or chainupon said drum and extending therefrom into connection with the other ofsaid parts, the said drum constructed with one or more notches in a lineconcentric with the axis of the drum, and a dog adapted to engage thenotches in the drum when the parts are in the normal position, the saidframe and dog, the oneconstructed for limited rotation in a horizontalplane, and the other stationary with relation to the same plane,substantially as described.

2. In a lamp fixture adapted to be hung from the ceiling and consistingof two parts, one of said parts adapted to be suspended from the ceilingand remain stationary, the other part adapted to carry the lamp or lampsand adjustable to different elevations, the combination therewith ofaspringdrum hung in a frame formed as a part of the stationary portion, acord or chain therefrom in connection with the adjustable part, a hangerabove the said frame and to which the said frame is pivoted, so that thesaid frame may rotate on the said pivot, the said drum constructed withone or more notches, and the hanger constructed with a corresponding dogadapted to engage said notch or notches of the drum in the normalcondition of the fixture, substantially as described, and whereby saidengagement of said hanger and drum may be released by a rotativemovement of the fixture, substantially as described.

3. In an extension-lamp fixture, the combination of a frame carrying thestationary part of the fixture, a drum arranged upon an axis in saidframe, a cord or chain therefrom and connected to the adjustable part ofthe fixture, a hanger to which the said frame is connected by a pivot,so as to permit a partial rotation of the said frame and drum, the saiddrum constructed with one or more notches in a line concentric with theaxis of the drum, the hanger constructed with a dog extending downwardand so as to stand in the path of said notch or notches on the drum inthe normal condition ofthe drum,'and aspringbetween said hanger andframe, the tendency of which is to draw the said hanger and drum intoengagement but yield under the rotative movement of the frameand so asto take the drum out of engagement with the hanger, substau-- tially asdescribed.

4.. In an extension-lamp fixture, the combination of a frame, A,carrying the stationary part of the fixture, a drum, B, hungin the saidframe upon a horizontal axis and so as to revolve in a vertical plane,acord or chain extending from said drum into connection with theadjustable part of the fixture, the said drum constructed with a seriesof notches or teeth, a, concentric with its axis, a hanger,

ing to yieldingly hold the frame in the posi- [0 said hanger and frame,whereby a, horizontal tion of engagementbetween the dog and drum,rotation is permitted to the frame and all it but so as to permitdisengagement under it carries independent of the hanger, a dog, I, Irotative movement of the said frame, substan- G, with a verticalpivotconnection between 5 projecting downward from said hanger intotially as described.

the path of the said concentric series of FRANK RHIN D. notches on thedrum,and a spring, J, connected Witnesses: by one end to the frame andby the other end GEO. L. COOPER, to said hanger, the tendency of thespring be- BENJ. O. KENNABD.

